Send me email updates about messages I've received
on the site and the latest news from The CafeMom Team.By signing up, you certify that
you are female and accept the Terms of Service and have read the
Privacy Policy.

If they say I'm 2cm 50%effaced and minus 3. What does minus 3 mean?

That's how high the baby is. 0 is when the head is right at your pelvis and anything "plus" 1, 2, 3 is the baby moving down and crowning past the pelvis.

Answer by
Anonymous
at 8:37 PM on Aug. 29, 2009

There are little bony prominences in your pelvis called the ischial spines. These can be felt in a vaginal exam. When the baby's head is right at this landmark that is "Zero station". When they say you are "minus three" it means your baby's head is three centimeters ABOVE the ischial spines. When they tell you while you're in labor that your baby is "plus 2" it means the baby's head is 2 centimeters BELOW the spines. Does that make sense?